Is Ghana also heading towards a "Day Zero"?

Days after Cape Town, South Africa, has declared "Day Zero", the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has announced that water supply in most parts of the country will soon be rationed to ensure equitable distribution. It seems that the water crisis in Africa has now reached Ghana.


 GWCL currently operates eighty-eight (88) urban water supply systems throughout the country. Average production is about eight hundred and seventy-one thousand, four hundred and ninety-six cubic meters (871,496m3) per day (192 million gallons per day). Present potable water demand is estimated at one million, one hundred and thirty-one thousand, eight hundred and eighteen point eighteen cubic meters (1,131,8181m3) per day (249 million per day).

With this shortfall already creating demand and supply issues across the country, according to the Ghana Water Company Limited, they are experiencing some challenges with water supply in Accra and most parts of the country due to the onset of the dry season, and that “the situation has led to intermittent water supply in most cities and towns in the country.”

In a statement released by the management of GWCL, they advised the general public to be measured in their consumption of water while the Water Company addresses the challenges.


Below is the full statement from GWCL:

Dry season water conservation

The Management of Ghana Water Company Limited wishes to announce that with the onset of the dry season, we are experiencing some challenges with water supply in Accra and most parts of the country.

We are sorry to inform the consuming public that, the situation has led to intermittent water supply in most Cities and Towns in the country.

It must be emphasized that during this season, a number of consumers resort to the use of treated water for keeping lawns green, for commercial washing of vehicles etc. The dry season is on and consumers with greater dependence on rainwater have also compounded the problem by taking to treated water use. These practices ease the pressures in the pipelines thereby causing low pressure and no flow in some areas, especially areas located in high elevations.

Management of GWCL is very much concerned about the serious impact of the water situation in the Country and wish to assure the general public that, the company is working assiduously to undertake the necessary steps aimed at improving the water delivery in the Country.

To help the company through this critical period, consumers are advised to strictly observe the following water conservation measures:

    Cease indiscriminate watering of lawns with treated water,
    Moderate the use of treated water for car washing through the use of buckets instead of hosing,

    Shut all taps when not in use,
    Repair all leakages in your homes, like overflowing reservoirs and dripping taps, valves, etc
    Report all burst pipes and leakages immediately to the nearest GWCL district offices,
Customer Service centres, Fault Offices, and via the GWCL customer App which is also available on google playstore on android cell phones and applestore on iPhones and Tablets or GWCL whatsapp lines (0555123393, 0555155524, 0207385088, 0207385089, 0207385090). You can google locations, pictures and videos of the burst
    Report all persons engaged in illegal connections, by-passes, and all malpractices against GWCL

Management of GWCL, wishes to advice the general public that it is doing its utmost best to solve the water situation in the country but as patriotic citizens, we need to desist from Antisocial and unacceptable behaviors like the use of in-line pumps, illegal connections, and by passes. Let us pay our bills promptly and help GWCL to serve you better.

The cooperation of the general public is greatly appreciated.

In an interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra last Friday, the Head of Communications at the GWCL, Mr Stanley Martey, said with the exception of the Eastern and the Ashanti regions, all the regions had been affected by the rationing, with the Western Region being the worst affected.

“We are only able to utilise about 40 per cent of the capacity of the treatment plant in the Western Region because the water level in the River Pra, one of the sources of water supply, is very low,” he said.
How did Ghana get to this?

Well, over the years, attention has not been paid to environmental degradation and pollution of water bodies by illegal miners. Also, the dry season has not helped issues and have led to this current state.
The water treatment plant that supplies water to Tema, Teshie and Nungua has also been shut down resulting in water being rationed in those areas.

Now that the nation is aware of how it got here, will we sit back and allow the condition to worsen to the point where a "Day Zero" will be declared or will the fight against illegal mining and water pollution for that matter be stepped-up? Will people stop using chemicals for fishing in water bodies and put a stop to practices that only go back to worsen the current situation? What will the nation do to solve its current  water crisis which seem to be a prevailing issue?

I believe the nation will come out stronger and better and will never be face with the situation where water rationing will be the only resolve.

Let's wait for the authorities to see what they come up with to stem the tide.